Letter: Appreciation for Obama undeserved

Saturday

Jan 21, 2017 at 8:10 PMJan 21, 2017 at 8:10 PM

I sincerely hope that MetroWest Daily News readers are never again subjected to the cacophony of balderdash and poppycock we endured on Sunday in columnist Eugene Robinson`s “classiest of class acts” article, exposing his abject infatuation with the Obamas. Unfortunately reminiscent of MSNBC`s Chris Matthews’ revelation of the tingle he felt up his leg just hearing Obama speak, Robinson`s revelation of such admiration for such a flawed leader revealed a blind fixation on the Obama image rather than what MLK knew the measure of a man to be…. the content of his character.

Eugene appears to be so enamored with the Obamas’ “education, elocution, and etiquette” that he forgot the difference between accomplishments and activities, because the only presidential and first lady accomplishments he mentioned were aging (a natural process everyone partakes of, I thought), talking (however eloquently with teleprompters or a safe audience), golfing with close friends (all golfers do that), hosting state dinners and holiday parties, shaking hands, being gracious to all guests of the same political bent (let`s face it…who else entered the White House during the Obama years?). Mr. Robinson`s thrill at seeing a black family living in the White House produced a euphoria only a successful George Soros production of Pygmalion would have dared envision. Eugene, this was about the presidency and leadership of our great nation, not about someone who won the lottery to live in the White House for eight years and didn`t trip coming down the stairs, spill the wine on the ambassador of China`s wife, or turn out the lights before everyone went home.

Sadly, on Jan 18 the MetroWest Daily News editorial decided to double down on their effusive praise for “Obama`s proud legacy.” Not only did our local `journalists` join the “scandal-free administration” parade, already majoretted by Fareed Zakaria, Valerie Jarrett, and Obama himself, but they stood behind several false claims that “the U.S. standing in the world is vastly improved” (I refer to Marco Rubio…”Our allies don`t trust us and our enemies don`t fear us”), that “the Paris climate agreement may prove to be a historic achievement”…too bad China is exempt and (sure, just as the Iran Deal will achieve peace in the Middle East), and “police are better off for his administration`s intervention” (tell that to fatherless cop families), and the final irony…”Obama leaves as an icon around the world for American exceptionalism” (when he categorically denied we are exceptional). Our world has turned upside down (soon to be righted though) by such assertions as the Nation`s David Cole when writing of the “undeniable accomplishments of this great man” [Obama], “Today`s turmoil in race relations may be a testament to the progress his administration made.” Who is he kidding? A fitting ending to the Obama legacy is that he pardoned a transgender traitor today. Guess there wasn`t anything more important to do.

Robert Phipps

Hopkinton

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